Whiskey and Lace(14)

I felt consumed by him in that moment, fully. I was wrapped around Carter, body and soul. Suddenly the pain and anger I'd felt the past few days fell away and my heart was soothed just having him in my arms again. Carter held my body so tightly to his it felt like he was trying to consume me, trying to meld us into one. I leaned back and lifted my shirt over my shoulders, then pressed my lips into his again. I ran my fingers through his hair, which looked like he'd ran his own fingers through it in frustration a thousand times in the last 24 hours. Carter began kissing along the curve of my neck and down my shoulder, sliding the strap of my bra down my arm. His fingers worked the other strap down and I arched my head back, giving him access to my body. He felt so good; he felt so warm, so right, but he'd hurt me. The last few days came crashing back into my brain.

Suddenly I couldn't think beyond the pain I’d felt, the pain he'd left me in. And the fact that he hadn't even called since Friday. My heart had ached for him all weekend, and then broken into a thousand pieces when I saw the picture of him with Nikki.

"Wait, Carter. Stop." I pushed his chest back from me and pulled away. I stood and searched for my shirt on the floor. I slid it over my head and looked into his eyes. They flashed in anger and I swore in that moment I didn't know what he would say. I knew he would never hurt me physically, but emotionally, he could be brutal. I licked my swollen lips and his eyes flashed to them like a cat watching a mouse. My breathing hitched and the sparks flicked between us. Passionate, anger-fueled sparks.

"You'll be leaving then." He cocked his head to one side and picked up the bottle of whiskey again.

I shook my head, confused. Did I fuck and run on him? Had I hurt him as much as he'd hurt me? My stomach clenched in pain at the thought.

"I didn't mean it Carter, it's just… you hurt me," I trailed off.

"You’re not supposed to run, Eva. You didn't even give me a chance," he gritted through his teeth.

"You didn't try very hard to get in touch with me." I spat at him.

"I did. I called and called. I texted. When you didn't answer I went to your house but Cate wouldn't let me in. She threatened to rip my balls off and shove them down my throat. She said she'd call the police if I came back. I fucking tried, Eva. I didn't even know why you were mad at me."

"You came over?"

"Yes. And I waited outside. I thought if Cate wouldn't let me in I could wait until you left. But you never left."

"I told Cate I didn't want to see you." My mind tried to process what he'd said. Why hadn't Cate told me that he'd come over? "I was so pissed. I saw her and I couldn't think straight. All I could think was that you'd…" I sucked in a sharp breath, remembering what I'd seen at The Hancock that day.

"What are you talking about?" A dark look crossed his eyes.

"Don't fuck with me, Carter. I saw Nikki leaving your office." I glared at him.

"Fuck." He ran a hand through his hair.

"That's certainly what it looked like to me," I shot at him.

"That's not what happened." His jaw clenched.

"Really? Why else would she be leaving your office in a slutty dress with rumpled sex hair?" Carter's eyes widened in surprise and then flashed with amusement.

"Jealous, Evangeline?" Carter's eyes danced. I glared at him and swiped for my bag on the floor to leave.

"Wait, I won't lie. She wanted to." Carter stood and his hand reached out for me and then paused. I crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow at him. "She came expecting something and she didn't get it, Evangeline. I had Parker take her home. I told you, we weren't even that serious to begin with. Nikki only keeps people around who can benefit her in some way, and hanging on my arm at industry events kept her in the press."

I lowered my eyes to the ground, processing what he was saying.

"You need to level with me, Carter. If I'm just some girl you dress up to look pretty on your arm, some girl you fuck, you need to let me go. I can't be that."

"Eva, no." His eyes flashed with a look of shock and pain. "Is that how you think I treat you?"

I averted my eyes from his and clenched my teeth together, willing the tears not to fall from my eyes.

"That's not what this is. Not to me. You're.... I... No one matters before you. Just you and me." He put his hands on my shoulders and ducked his head to look me in the eye. He smoothed the hair off of my face tenderly and I locked eyes with him for a few beats.

"I don't like her," I whispered.

"Me either." Carter wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug.

"All I could think about was you and her in your office, like we'd… and then I saw the picture of you together last night…" a sob escaped my throat.